Let the good times roll

Reaching a 50-year mark is a big accomplishment for anything, but if you can have a lot of fun and a lot of laughs doing it, then life is pretty good.

Dave Konkel, Wittenberg, graduated in 1970 and started league bowling that fall and is ready to start his 50th season.

“I’m not that good,” said Konkel. “When I quit having fun is when I’ll quit bowling.”

Through the years, the bowling alley ownership has changed a few times, but Konkel has been a fixture for Thursday night league. When Jason Resch, the current owner of what is now Resch Lanes, bought the business from Lyle Garton he was told if he had any questions just ask Dave — he’s been here long enough.

Resch doesn’t remember Konkel from when he bowled against him in his early 20s, but he’s appreciated the help he got from him when he and his wife Jenny bought the bowling alley in 2008. He recalls that Konkel was president of the Thursday night league and Tim Lemke was the treasurer; they made him feel welcome.

“He’s always been a good ambassador with new guys joining the league,” said Resch. “He jokes with them and has a good time and goes out of his way to make them feel welcome.”

Konkel doesn’t know how many teams he’s bowled for over the years or how many guys he’s bowled with but he does remember the loudest team members. In the early years he bowled with Daryl Zblewski and Jim Schwartzkof, his best friend since fifth grade. The joking around and harassing each other was a lot of good-natured fun, according to Konkel.
Some of the nights out would get a little rowdier than others, which made getting up the next morning to milk cows a little challenging, Konkel said.

There was a time when he was bowling four nights week while dairy farming and raising two children with his wife, Sherri. When she suggested he give up at least one night a week, he offered to give up their Saturday night couples league; that didn’t happen. He and Sherri stopped couples bowling three years ago and he’s narrowed down his time to Thursday nights with occasional substituting duties for a Wednesday night team.

He’s accumulated a lot of bowling shirts. A favorite of his had a design suggestion he and his team members made. The sponsor, North Star Farms was on the front, but the owner was persuaded to have a swayback horse, chewing on a blade of straw wearing a goofy hat with “Jodi’s Studs” on the back.

Over the years he participated in state tournaments which were always a fun weekend to get away with their wives.
He currently bowls for Cherek Transport Services with Brad Davis, his son-in-law. Davis was the first bowler to hit a 300 at Resch Lanes. Konkel’s average is 177 and his highest game since Resch took over was 201, which Konkel says ain’t bad for an old man!

There are 32 weeks in a season which runs from September through April and Resch is going to leave it up to the leagues to decide on how to make it all work taking social distancing precautions. According to the current state guidelines as long as customers have a drink in front of them they don’t have to wear a mask.

Resch offers a cornhole league in the summer time, but Konkel is busy with farming. He has cash crops and gave up the dairy business eight years ago. Konkel also makes sure he has plenty of quality time to spend with his granddaughter, Kelsie.